PlayStation Studios has announced that it is stepping away from its collaboration with Kojima Productions on PHYSINT, Hideo Kojima’s upcoming action espionage game.
The surprising decision marks a major change for a project that was originally announced as a collaboration between Kojima Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment. However, PHYSINT itself is not being cancelled, with Xbox now stepping in as the game’s publishing partner.
In brief:
- PlayStation Studios is no longer collaborating with Kojima Productions on PHYSINT.
- PlayStation says its relationship with Hideo Kojima and his studio remains strong.
- PHYSINT was originally announced in partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2024.
- Xbox has now partnered with Kojima Productions to publish PHYSINT.
PlayStation Steps Away From Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT
In a statement shared through its official social channels, PlayStation Studios confirmed that it had made the “difficult decision” to step away from collaborating with Kojima Productions on PHYSINT.
PlayStation did not provide a specific reason for ending its involvement. However, the company stressed that it continues to admire Kojima’s vision and intends to maintain its long-standing relationship with the legendary game creator and Kojima Productions.
That relationship stretches back roughly three decades, particularly through Kojima’s work on the Metal Gear series during his time at Konami.
PHYSINT was first announced in January 2024 as a new action espionage IP developed by Kojima Productions in partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment. At the time, Kojima described it as a new generation of action espionage game that would blur the boundaries between video games and movies.
PHYSINT Development Will Continue With Xbox
While PlayStation is leaving the project, PHYSINT is still moving forward.
Xbox has officially announced an expanded partnership with Kojima Productions that will see the company publish PHYSINT. The deal expands on the two companies’ existing collaboration on OD, with Xbox and Kojima Productions also planning to work together across film and television.
Kojima Productions previously revealed the first PHYSINT visual alongside cast members Charlee Fraser, Ma Dong-seok, and Minami Hamabe, although substantial gameplay details have yet to be shown.
PlayStation’s departure is certainly unexpected considering how heavily the companies’ decades-long relationship was emphasized when PHYSINT was originally revealed. For now, however, the biggest takeaway is that Kojima’s next action espionage project remains alive, just under a very different partnership.
